Dispenser with rotatable trap



Feb. 25, 1964 c. v. CROZIER DISPENSER WITH ROTATABLE TRAP Filed March 6, 1961 I I 2% 1 55 552: l9

1', III IV INVENTOR. CLARENCE v CROZIER United States Patent 3,122,278 DlfiPENSER WZTH RQTATABLE TRAP Clarence V. Crczier, RD. 2, Granville, Ghio Filed Mar. 6, 1961, See. No. 93,537 4 Claims. (Cl. 22230) This invention relates to improvements in dispensing devices, and more particularly to a device for dispensing powdered or granular material, such as cofiee, cocoa, dry milk, sugar, and the like.

Dispensing devices now available for the above purposes, as individual units, comprise an assembly of a considerable number of parts, including springs, bolts and nuts, set-screws, keeper rings, etc., which makes it difiiicult to disassemble the device for cleaning parts to which the material being dispensed adheres to some extent. For this reason the user may neglect to keep it clean with the result that the quantity metered becomes inaccurate and the device unsanitai or at least has such an appearance.

The prime objective of this invention is to provide a dispenser for materials of the type described which is exceedingly simple in construction and operation, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to assemble, and easy to disassemble for cleaning the surfaces with which the material being dispensed comes in contact.

More particularly, this invention resides in the provision of a dispenser comprising but three parts, each of which can be formed from one material, preferably a suitable plastic, i.e. a plastic which will permit production of the dispenser parts by modern methods of injection moulding, and thus lower the cost of production.

It is a further object of the invention that the rapidity of assembly or disassembly of the dispenser parts he increased to the maximum through the use of snap-in, snap-out, and snap-on actions for securing the parts in operative position or for disassembling the same for cleaning.

it is also an object of the invention that the amount or quantity of the material being dispensed may be quickly lowered or raised in definite amounts or quantities.

Other objects related to the foregoing will be apparent from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings:

PEG. 1 is a central vertical sectional view through a dispenser constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the metering rod, in both its operative position and its snap-out position, the latter being in dotted lines;

FIG. 2- is a partial vertical sectional view of the material hopper shown in FIG. 1, i.e. the lower portion thereof;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 in FiG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 44 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing separately and in perspective the three parts constituting the dispenser of this invention, namely, a lid, a hopper, and a metering rod; the hopper being broken away to illustrate the man ner in which the metering rod may be snapped-in in its operative position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the three parts which constitute the dispenser of this invention comprise a one-piece hopper It a lid 11 therefor, and the metering rod 12.

The hopper it}: is moulded to taper slightly toward its lower end and to provide a funnel-shaped partition wall 13 which terminates at its lower end in a material feed slot 14, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. This feed slot is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the metering rod 12 when in its snap-in position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each longitudinal edge of the feed slot is arcuate in shape and of the same radius as that of the metering rod. Thus, these longitudinal edges of the feed slot provide wipers for the metering rod 12 during rotation thereof for Wiping off any of the material being dispensed which may adhere to the rod. Also, the end edges of the feed slot are formed to fit closely cylindrical surfaces of the metering rod adjacent the opposite ends of the cavity or trap 15 formed in the body of the metering rod 12, longitudinally thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

The lower portion of the partition 13 is thickened as indicated at 16 for providing body strength for a pair of snap-on prongs or fingers 17 which are of the thickness and shape to support rotatably the metering rod 12 when seated in the annular groove 17' formed in said rod.

One end of the metering rod 12 is provided with a knurled knob 18 and its other end is rounded as shown at 19 to fit snugly into the shallow socket it} formed in a thickened skirt portion 21 of the hopper id, as best shown in FIG. 1.

Opposite the enlargement 21 (diametrically) a U- shaped opening 22 is provided in the lower end of the hopper wall for permitting free upward movements of the metering rod 12 for seating the prongs or fingers 17 in the groove 17 of said metering rod.

Each prong or finger 17 has its end surface portion 23 formed at a suitable angle for receiving with a snap-in action (a) a neck in the metering rod 12 formed by the groove 17' when the rounded end of the metering rod 12 is placed in its socket 20 and the other end of said rod is lifted quickly for placing said rod in its operative position. The metering rod 12 thus becomes journaled for rotative movement and the dispensing of the material in the hopper 19. The fingers or prongs 17 are designed to eliminate axial movement of the metering rod 12, and thus keep tension on the rod against rotation and thereby bring a snug fitting of the metering rod surface against the edges of the material feed slot in the bottom of the partition wall 13.

The knob 18 for turning the metering rod may be provided with an arrow 24 for indicating the operative position of said rod. When the arrow points upward as shown in FIG. 5 the cavity or trap is in loading position, and when said arrow points downward, said metering rod is in its dispensing or unloading position.

In order to obtain snapon and snap-off actions of the lid 11, its under side is formed with an annular flange 25 and a rib 25 which are so shaped and spaced that snap-on and snap-oil actions can be had when the lid 11 is applied for closing the hopper 1t} and to open said hopper respectively.

For the purpose of increasing or decreasing the amount or quantity of material which the cavity or trap 15 will hold, a number of snap-in and snap-out reducers 25 are provi ed for each dispenser. These reducers may be formed from the same material from which the hopper, lid, and the metering rod are made. As shown in FIG. 1, each reducer may have a central socket 27 within which a lug 27a on the next adjacent reducer is adapted to be snap-fitted. The lug of the first reducer is positioned in a socket 28 formed in an end wall of the trap 15. Each reducer may be marked with appropriate indicia to indicate the amount it reduces the capacity or" the trap 15.

Each dispenser unit of this invention may be designed for support by a wall bracket through companion supporting means formed on the outer wall of the hopper 19. The wall bracket illustrated is a conventional type, it can be made for supporting one dispenser unit, or made to support two or three units if desired. The hopper it) is moulded for providing a support-lug 28' directly above the thickened portion 21 of said hopper. This lug has a depending pin 29 near one end thereof while its opposite end terminates in a wedge 3%. The wall bracket 31 has a plate portion 32 wmch may be secured to a wall by screws 33. One end of the bracket plate is formed with an enlargement having a hole for serving as a socket for the pin 29, and its other end formed with an outwardly extending lug, shaped for receiving the wedge end 30 of the support-lug 3. In brief, the support means carried by the hopper 1% can be quickly seated in the socket means carried by the wall bracket for supporting the dispenser. Likewise the dispenser can be quickly removed from the wall bracket for cleaning, or if desired the dispenser can be quickly cleaned While supported by the wall bracket.

From the foregoing description the manufacture and operation of a dispenser according to this invention is clearly apparent. Briefly, the manufacture resides in moulding the hopper it), its lid 11, and the metering rod 12 from a suitable plastic material so that the rod may be snapped quickly on or otf the hopper, and the metering rod may be snapped quickly into its operative position, and as quickly snapped out, so that its surface, as well as all the inside surfaces of the dispenser, may be cleaned quicldy. Thus, the owner of a dispenser manufactured according to this invention could have no reason to neglect frequent cleaning thereof to avoid fouling of the measuring trap, hopper, or metering rod, exteriorly or interiorly.

Briefly, for dispensing material from the hopper 1% in measured quantities or amounts by means of the metering rod 12, said rod should be rotated by the knob 18 to bring the trap 15 into loading position with respect to the feed slot in the conical partition wall 13 which will occur when the arrow 2 of the knob 18 points upward. The rod can now be rotated to bring the arrow 24 to point downward and the measured amount will be discharged into a receptacle placed beneath the trap 15. The rod should be returned to its loaded position while in use to assist in keeping fresh the materials being dispensed.

When it is desired to change the amount of quantity metered by the trap 15, reducers 26 may be snapped-on, or out of the trap to bring about the amount or quantity it will discharge when brought to its unloading position.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the details of construction illustrated and described, but includes such modifications thereof as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for powdered or granular materials comprising in combination, a hopper having a feed slot at the bottom thereof, a metering rod having a measuring trap beneath the feed slot, means carried by the hopper at one end of the feed slot and operatively associated with said rod whereby said metering rod is supported at one end for both rotatable movement and upward and downward swinging movements, and means carried by the hopper at the other end of the feed slot whereby said metering rod when swung upwardly will be engaged by said latter-mentioned means for rotatably supporting the rod.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said latter-mentioned means includes spaced apart fingers depending from the lower end of the hopper, each of said spaced apart fingers including an angularly disposed end portion extending into the space between said fingers and adapted to support the other end of said metering rod.

3. A dispenser comprising a material hopper having a feed slot in its lower end, a metering rod rotatably supported below said slot, a cavity trap provided longitudinally of the rod, said cavity trap having a socket formed in one end thereof, a plurality of educers adapted to be received in said cavity trap for decreasing or increasing the amount of material metered by said cavity trap, each of said reducers including a socket at one side thereof similar to said socket in said cavity trap, and a lug on the other side of each reducer adapted to be received either in said socket in said trap or in one of said sockets in one of said reducers.

4. In a dispenser of the character described, a material hopper having a feed slot in its lower end, a cylindrical metering rod rotatably supported below said slot, a cavity trap provided longitudinally of the rod, whereby loading and unloading positions of said rod may be obtained with rotative movements thereof, a plurality of reducers adapted to be snapped into and snapped out of said cavity trap for decreasing or increasing respectively the amount or quantity of material metered by said cavity trap, said cavity trap including a recessed socket in one end thereof, each of said plurality of reducers including a socket at one side thereof similar to said recessed socket in one end of the cavity trap, and a lug on the other side of each reducer adapted to be received selectively either in said socket in said trap or in one of said sockets in one of said reducers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,721,137 Schmidt July 16, 1929 1,772,377 Wlnttle Aug. 5, 1930 1,891,038 Barros Dec. 13, 1932 2,131,651 Woo Sept. 27, 1938 2,585,198 Warren Feb. 12, 1952 2,721,009 Reid Oct. 18, 1955 2,779,512 Steele et al. Jan. 29, 1957 2,984,382 Florsheim May 16, 1961 

1. A DISPENSER FOR POWDERED OR GRANULAR MATERIALS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A HOPPER HAVING A FEED SLOT AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF, A METERING ROD HAVING A MEASURING TRAP BENEATH THE FEED SLOT, MEANS CARRIED BY THE HOPPER AT ONE END OF THE FEED SLOT AND OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ROD WHEREBY SAID METERING ROD IS SUPPORTED AT ONE END FOR BOTH ROTATABLE MOVEMENT AND UPWARD AND DOWNWARD SWINGING MOVEMENTS, AND MEANS CARRIED BY THE HOPPER AT THE OTHER END OF THE FEED SLOT WHEREBY SAID METERING ROD WHEN SWUNG UPWARDLY WILL BE ENGAGED BY SAID LATTER-MENTIONED MEANS FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING THE ROD. 